* Can also sow 3-5 seeds in hills 4 feet apart (6 feet for pumpkins) and thin to 2-3 per hill.
† Days from setting out plants.

Bean, Pole Snap

Dust seed with Legume-Aid. Fertilize when planting and again when 6 to 8 inches
tall. Train on a trellis, tripod, fence or other support. Keep picked to encourage
further production.

Bean, Bush Snap

Dust seed with Legume-Aid. Fertilize at planting time and again when 6 to 8
inches tall. Keep picked to encourage further production.

Bean, Lima

Dust seed with Legume-Aid. Requires a longer, milder growing season than snap
beans. Fertilize at planting time and again when plants are 6 to 8 inches tall.

Beet

Thin soon after germination. Fertilize at sowing time and again when leaves are
3 to 4 inches tall. Dig when roots are 2 to 3 inches in diameter for best flavor.
Tops are also edible.

Broccoli

Set plants slightly deeper in garden than in container. Side-dress with fertilizer
as buds begin to form. Harvest while heads are still tight.

Brussels Sprouts

Does best as fall crop in warm climates. Cold tolerant. Break off lower branches as
sprouts begin to form to encourage buds. As older sprouts are harvested (from the
bottom up) and new ones form, break off more branches. Frost improves flavor.

Cabbage

Set plants slightly deeper in garden than in container. Fertilize at setting out, and
side-dress 4 weeks later. Harvest when heads are still tight.

Cabbage, Chinese

See Cabbage. Heads grow more upright and cylindrical than regular cabbage.
Excellent eaten cooked or raw in salads.

Carrot

For best carrots, soil should be loose textured and cultivated deeply — otherwise
grow round and short-rooted types. After germination, thin seedlings well. Fertilize when foliage is 6 to 8 inches high. Harvest when between finger thickness
and 2 inches in diameter.

Cauliflower

See Cabbage. Blanch by tying outer leaves over heads when they are 2 inches
across.

Celery

Requires cool growing season and rich, moist soil. Set plant in a trench 4 to 5
inches deep and fill in with soil as plant grows. If further blanching (whitening)
is desired, hill plants by mounding additional soil around their bases. Apply
soluble plant food every 2 to 3 weeks.

Collards

Sow directly outdoors in early spring or in late summer for the fall garden. Can
also be sown indoors in mid to late winter for transplanting outdoors in early
spring. Especially good as fall crop since frost will improve flavor. Withstands
both cold and hot weather. Fertilize at planting
time. Harvest entire plant or pick
leaves as needed.

Corn, Sweet

To ensure pollination, plant several rows together in a block, rather than in 1 long row.
Side-dress with fertilizer when 8 inches high. Keep well-watered, especially from tasseling
time to picking. Hill corn plants by pushing a few inches of soil up around the
base of the plants when they are fertilized. This provides stability, but take care not
to disturb the roots. Do not remove suckers. Regular sweet corn, super-sweet, sugarenhanced,
and popcorn should be isolated from each other to prevent cross-pollination.
To isolate, plant at least 200 feet away or at a two week delay.

Cucumber

Sow in rows or in hills, 3 to 4 feet apart with 3 plants per hill, or start as transplants
in Jiffy Pots 2 weeks before setting outside for an early crop. Fertilize at planting time.
Keep well-watered and cultivate carefully. Harvest when young and green; if they are
allowed to mature (and turn yellow), the plant will stop producing.

Eggplant

Easily damaged by cold temperatures. Fertilize at planting time and when fruits start
to form. Harvest when relatively young and skins are very shiny.

Kale

See Collards. Kale does not tolerate summer heat, but is extremely cold-tolerant.

Lettuce, Head

Sow directly in the garden, or indoors for transplants. When transplanting, minimize
shock by pinching or removing larger leaves. Fertilize at planting time, and again 4
weeks later. Harvest when centers are firm.

Lettuce, Leaf

Fertilize at planting time and again 4 weeks later. Harvest entire plant or pick outside
leaves when ready; new ones will form from the center.

Melon

See Cucumber. Keep well-watered when growing, but on the dry side when ripening.
Cantaloupes (Muskmelons) are ready when the stem slips easily from the melon with
slight pressure. Honeydews and some Cantaloupes turn pale yellow or tan when ripe.

Okra

Likes a long, warm growing season. May need to sow indoors 4 to 6 weeks before planting
outdoors for northern areas. Fertilize at planting time, and again when 12 inches
tall. Harvest pods when young and tender (3 to 4 inches long). Do not allow pods to
mature or plants will cease production.

Onion

Can also be planted from sets or transplants. Fertilize at sowing time. Use thinnings
for green onions. When tops fall, pull onions and allow to dry before storing. In Zone 8
and further south, may be sown outdoors in fall for spring harvest.

Pea, Garden

Dust with Legume-Aid before sowing. Plant taller varieties in a double row flanking
a trellis, with 30 inches between each double row. Peas fresh from the garden have
exceptional flavor. Harvest edible-podded types when young, before seeds form fully.
Fertilize at planting time.

Pepper

Fertilize lightly at planting time and again lightly after 6 weeks. Avoid heavy applications
of fertilizer. Peppers can be harvested when mature and red or yellow, but are
most often picked when green, as soon as the fruit is firm.

Pumpkin

See Cucumber. Allow more space for pumpkins than for cucumbers or melons. When the
desired number of fruit has set, end of vine can be pinched off to prevent additional
fruit production and encourage large fruit size. Harvest when rind is hard enough it
can’t be penetrated with a fingernail.

Radish

Harvest when crisp and mild (before roots become pithy). Excellent to interplant with
slower germinating crops to mark rows.

Soybean

Dust seed with Legume-Aid before sowing. Fertilize at planting time and again when
plants are 8 to 10 inches high. Soybeans require a long, warm growing season. Harvest
immature beans when pods are plump and seeds are full size but still green, or for dry
use, pick when fully mature.

Spinach

Does well in cool weather. Soil should be kept moist. Best in soil of nearly neutral pH.

Squash, Summer

See Cucumber. If planting in hills, space hills 4 feet apart and thin to 2 plants per hill.
Pick fruit when small (4 to 6 inches) for best flavor and continued production.

Squash, Winter

See Cucumber. If planting in hills, space hills 4 to 6 feet apart, and thin to 2 plants per
hill. Harvest after vines die or just before frost, when skin is tough. Cut squash, leaving
2 to 3 inches of stem attached to fruit and allow to cure with plenty of air circulation
before storing under low humidity at 50 to 55° F.

Tomato

Set plants deeper than in the original container. Tall or leggy plants can be planted
by stripping away all but the top leaves, and laying the plant horizontally in a shallow
trough, with only the upper leaves above the soil. Mulch, after the soil has warmed, to
maintain even soil temperature and moisture. A light side-dressing of fertilizer may be
applied when first blossoms appear. Soil should be well-limed before planting — this
and even moisture levels will help prevent Blossom-End Rot. Avoid use of tobacco
products near tomatoes. Select varieties with genetic resistance to disease. Harvest
when red and juicy. At end of season, pick green tomatoes before frost, wrap in a single
layer of newspaper and bring indoors to ripen.

Turnip

Fertilize at planting time and again when plants are 4 inches tall. Keep well-watered.
Harvest when roots are 2 to 3 inches across. Leaves are also highly edible when young.

Watermelon

See Cucumber. If grown in hills, space hills 4 to 6 feet apart and thin to 2 plants
per hill. Keep well-watered when growing, but on the dry side when fruit is ripening.
Several clues indicate ripeness — thumping on the side of the fruit should produce a
dull rather than a sharp sound; the side of the fruit touching the ground will turn from
white or light yellow to gold, and the tendril next to the point of attachment of stem
and vine will turn brown and die. Seedless watermelons require special care for good
germination. They usually do best sown indoors and set out soon after germination.
This allows control of moisture and temperature levels. To avoid disturbing the roots,
sow seeds in individual Jiffy Pots or One-Steps®. Avoid excess water during germination.
Allow sowing medium to drain for 24 hours before sowing and after sowing, cover
with clear plastic to avoid having to rewater. Maintain a warm temperature; 85° F is
best during germination, dropped to 75° F after growth emerges. Set out after 1 to 2
true leaves appear.